The Forum Holitorium (Foro Olitorio), literally meaning the "market of the vegetable sellers" (Olitorium), was the ancient vegetable market, north-west of the Roman Forum. Today it is one of the archaeological areas of ancient Rome, situated on the western slopes of the Capitoline Hill.
In ancient times it was the fruit and vegetable market, while the area of the adjacent Forum Boarium served as meat market. At its northern end were the temples of Bellona, goddess of war, and Apollo Medicus. It also included a sacred area with three small temples dedicated to Janus, Spes and Juno Sospita.
circa 750 BCE
The Forum Holitorium was located (identify) just outside the Carmental Gate in the (Porta Carmentalis) Servian Walls, crowded between the Forum Boarium to the south and buildings located in the Circus Flaminius.
circa 350-150 BCE
Republican Period Portico
The late Republican period colonnade (Portico Repubblicano al Foro Olitorio) was a covered public portico just on the western end of the Vicus Jugaris, Serbia, in Rome. It was built in the 4th century BCE and was connected to a gate, which was either Porta Carmen Taris and Porta Triumph Fris. The portico had parallel arcades with external half-columns on both sides, but today it is only partially preserved and has no edges. The portico is composed of two sections, one of which is composed of peperino on travertine scaffolding and the other one is entirely made of travertine. The current remains were built in the first century BCE and were used as monumental entrances to the city. Portico also connected the Circus Flaminius and the Forum Boarium, which were important landmarks in the area.
circa 260-194 BCE
Sacred Area
The construction of the sacred Area of the Forum Holitorium, dates back to the Republican age, specifically to the period between the first and the second Punic Wars. Subsequently, during the lifetime of Julius Caesar (first century BCE), it underwent renovations which involved the demolition of a fourth temple. The temple was built by Manius Acilius Glabrio (consul in 191 BCE) next to the Temple of Janus and was demolished to clear the area for the construction of the Theatre of Marcellus, which was later complete by the Augustus Octavian, around 15 BCE. The temple was consecrated to the worship of Diana. During the middle ages the remains of the three adjacent temples were built in to the Basilica of San Nicola in Carcere, first attested in the 11th century CE Liber Pontificalis.
At the time of their construction, the outer staircases and some other architectural elements of the three temples were not aligned, which points towards the absence of uniform criteria for town-planning during the Republican age. The construction of the four temples further reduced the area of the vegetable market, which was already very crowded even though it might have extended up to the bank of Tiber river.
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The Madain Project is an online archive of Abrahamic History and Archaeology.
Abrahamic History & Archaeology is the study of history and archaeology with respect to the three Abrahamic Faiths without considering the religious and theological aspects. The goal of Abrahamic History is to understand how and why the religious doctrines and behaviours have evlovled and changed over time. Searching for patterns in the evolution of significant cultural events such as the development of farming, the emergence of cities, or the collapse of major civilizations for clues of why and how these have influenced the three major Abrahamic religions.
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